When There Is Nothing Left But Love

He smiled and took the bowl of chowder from me, then he sipped from it. He nodded, probably thinking it was fine. “Do you cook a lot in the past?”

I could never understand how he managed to shift the topics that fast. I shook my head. “No. I often saw my grandma making this when I was little.”

He nodded and sipped the chowder in silence, as if reminiscing the past. I didn’t want to break the silence, so I observed him. A short while later, he looked up at me. “Was it hard living in R Province?”

I stared at him, stupefied. “How did you know that’s where I lived?”

He found that question amusing. “That’s not too hard to figure out. I told you I helped you out so I can get my hands on that sandalwood box. Is it that surprising that I’d look into your past then?”

Well, that argument was sound, so I nodded. “I see.” He waited for me to continue, so I said, “Not really. I didn’t starve or die out in the cold. At least it was better than how I live now.”

He smiled at me again and put the bowl away. “Have you ever regretted at choosing Ashton?”

I couldn’t answer him. “There’s still some in the

shook his head, then he stopped asking

to my bedroom, spaced out. Have I ever regretted

the skies as rain poured. I thought of Armond and his wound, and I wondered if the curtains

knocked on the door, but nobody came to open it, though I heard something crashing inside. Surprised, I went inside, but Armond was nowhere to be found, though the night light

so I heaved a sigh and went to knock on it. “Are you alright, Mr. Murphy?” He didn’t answer, and I started to worry. “Mr. Murphy, are

fine,” he interrupted, but he

He came out a long while later and

I dragged him to the chair, fuming. Then I pulled his towel away to check his wound again, but I overlooked one thing. He just came out of the bathroom, and he only had a

was just going to check his wound. Nothing else. I noticed that he was getting tense, so I said, “Relax. I’m just going to take a look at your wound. It might have to get bandaged again

He looked thin when he was clothed, but he was really lean. “Dammit. Water got into it, and a pus is forming,” I cursed and

me again. “I’m used to